February 11, 2016 / Baltimore Medical System Staff
Baltimore Medical System, one of the largest federally qualified health centers in Maryland, today announced that it has received a $30,000 grant from the Abell Foundation to expand its women’s health services. The grant will be used to increase access to long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) for lowincome female patients who are ineligible for insurance coverage.
“For over 30 years, Baltimore Medical System has been committed to improving the overall health of our community – and the reality is a significant portion of our community is uninsured,” said Shirley Sutton, president and CEO of Baltimore Medical System. “We have a major responsibility to ensure that those patients are properly educated and medically served – and through the key support of the Abell Foundation we’re now able to offer more contraceptive protection to women of child bearing age across the Baltimore area that would otherwise not be able to afford it.”
Funding from the grant will serve low-income females between the ages of 15 and 44 who choose a LARC method of contraception when offered the range of contraceptive options at Baltimore Medical System’s Belair-Edison, Highlandtown and Orleans Square locations, as well as its school-based health centers located in select Baltimore City public high schools.
In August 2015, the Abell Foundation published a report that explored the landscape of LARC access in Baltimore City, considered best practices from other places and offered recommendations for increasing access to LARCs, particularly for low-income uninsured patients.
The funding directly supports Baltimore Medical System’s work as a Title X Family Planning Grantee, as well as its work with B’more for Healthy Babies, Baltimore City’s initiative to reduce infant mortality rates and improve birth outcomes, and the Baltimore City Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative.
About Baltimore Medical System
Baltimore Medical System is the largest federally qualified health center (FQHC) in Maryland. Dedicated to improving the health, wellness and quality of life of medically underserved communities in the Baltimore area, Baltimore Medical System provides safe, high quality, accessible and affordable healthcare through its five community health centers, four pharmacies, seven school-based health centers and multiple community outreach programs. As a community-based, independent non-profit 501(c)(3), Baltimore Medical System provides services for primary care, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics and behavioral health. For more information, please visit www.bmsi.factorydev.net and follow Baltimore Medical System on Facebook.
